The 2011 All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Dublin is sure to evoke memories of famous battles between the two from the 1970’s and 1980’s. Despite a renaissance under the tutelage of Pat Gilroy in the past couple of years, the Kingdom will enter this year’s decider as firm favourites.
Press coverage in the run up to Sunday’s decider has been dominated by the lifting of Diarmuid Connolly’s suspension and injuries to key personnel in the Kerry camp.
Connolly was sent off in the semi final for striking a Donegal opponent but (and not surprisingly) cleared after a successful appeal from the Dublin County Board. One of Connolly’s best performances in a blue jersey came in the 0-22 to 0-15 demolition of Tyrone in the quarter finals at Croke Park earlier this summer when he top scored with 0-7 of his side’s total. He is a player capable of causing the Kerry defence plenty of issues with his scoring ability and general link-up play but the trouble with Connolly is his lack of consistency.
The Dublin forward had contributed little by the 58th minute in the turgid semi final win over Donegal before being sent to the line. Pat Gilroy needs a big performance from Connolly on Sunday to have any chance of defeating the Kingdom and the Dublin forward will need to repay his manager’s faith with an improved showing.
Kerry’s 2011 campaign has been hampered by injuries and suspensions to key personnel with Paul Galvin producing mere cameo appearances and now Eoin Brosnan is reported to have turned on his ankle in a midweek training session. The Kerry centre-back was sent to the cryotherapy unit in Ennis to recover and barring disaster is expected to line out in the number 6 jersey for the final.
Most counties would fret at the number of injuries endured in the run-up to an All-Ireland final but Jack O’Connor’s side have such experience of September Sunday’s that niggles and knocks will quickly be overcome as All-Ireland final day draws closer.
So where are the key areas that will decide the 2011 football championship? In my opinion, the attacking duo of Colm Cooper and Kieran Donaghy hold the key to yet another Kerry All-Ireland triumph this year. The forwards combined for 1-9 in the semi final defeat of Mayo after a miserly 0-4 points in the last eight trouncing of Limerick.
The biggest statistic from Jack O’Connor’s star studded forward division in 2011 has been the even spread of scores. For years Kerry relied on Donaghy and ‘Gooch’ to provide the majority of their side’s goals and points but his summer has seen the emergence of Declan O’Sullivan, Bryan Sheehan and Darran O’Sullivan as regular scorers to ease the burden on the experienced Kerry duo.
As if Kerry weren’t strong enough the ability of the Munster champions to move the ball quickly from defence to attack and have six scoring weapons to aim for marks them down as clear favourites for another Sam Maguire.
If Dublin are to hold out any hope of causing an upset on Sunday then it is imperative they cut off the supply line to the Kerry forwards. Pat Gilroy’s blanket defensive system had worked well all summer in stifling their opponents’ attacks until they encountered an even more abrasive setup against Donegal in the semi finals. The Dubs superior fitness levels helped them over the line and another energy-sapping display is needed to blunt a livewire Kerry attack. A reported injury to Dublin’s Paul Flynn would represent a major blow to the Leinster Champions ambitions although the diagnosis of his hamstring injury has been positive to date.
Most neutral supporters agree with the bookies that Kerry look the more likely of the two remaining counties to lift the Sam Maguire. Although Dublin have impressed in patches throughout the summer (in particular the 22 points scored in atrocious weather conditions to see off Tyrone) Kerry’s ability to score heavily should see them emerge as champions.
So what are the main reasons Kerry will eventually see off a dogged Dublin challenge?
·The Kingdom have racked up 2-16 against Tipperary, 1-15 against Cork, 1-26 against Limerick (Munster), 1-20 against Limerick (Quarter Finals) and 1-20 against Mayo en route to the final. Going on previous championship encounters 16 or 17 scores should be enough to claim Sam this term.
·Paul Galvin. The former player of the year has struggled with injury for long periods of the championship but even if not fully fit the Finuge man remains the best player in the country at claiming loose / dirty ball around the middle of the park. Galvin’s ability to link midfield with attack will be crucial in a certain-to-be overcrowded centre-field area.
·Any side with Colm Cooper in its squad automatically has a chance of winning an All-Ireland. By his own admission Cooper has not hit the heights of previous campaigns but is experienced enough to create chances for his team mates when not in a scoring position himself. Dublin may well have to provide double coverage on the corner forward which will only free up space for the likes of Bryan Sheehan and Darran O’Sullivan.
So there you have it, Kerry to win the 2011 All-Ireland after a terrific battle with Pat Gilroy’s Dubs.
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